Hundreds of thousands of people passed the streets of Warsaw on Tuesday in the yearly March of independency on the occasion of the 107th anniversary of Poland's independence. The participants walked along a way marked by metallic barriers under the motto «One nation, a strong Poland», despite the fact that the Mazowiecka voivodship had banned the usage of pyrotechnics. According to estimates, 250 to 300 000 participants participated in the march.
The event took on a political dimension erstwhile it was announced that the president of PiS Jarosław Kaczyński would participate in the march. This decision met with criticism of erstwhile cabinet chief Andrzej Duda, Mark Mastalerek. In an interview with Polsat, he stated that the thought “is so stupid that it must have been invented by Jacek Kurski”. Mastalerek pointed out that the PiS “could never organize something like the March of Independence” and “it had to fight it first, and now it has to get into it”.
Tusk on patriotism without monopoly
Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who participated in the celebrations in Gdańsk, stressed in his speech that “no 1 has a monopoly on patriotism”. The head of government added: «Patriotism is never 1 Pole against another Pole. Patriotism is always a Pole with a Pole». Tusk reminded that it was in Gdańsk, together with the already deceased president of the city, that he organized the first parade on independency Day about 25 years ago.
Ministers ousted in Piłsudski Square
State celebrations in Piłsudski Square in Warsaw were conducted in tension. erstwhile the host announced the names of the national defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and interior minister Marcin Kierwiński, any of the gathered responded with whistles and buzzing. Minister Kosiniak-Kamish referred to this in his speech: «The scream and whistle did not give freedom. It is simply a work, prayer in sanctuaries from Częstochowa to Gietrzwald [...] present we stand together despite having common views and voting differently [...]».
Christmas celebrations besides included spiritual celebrations. Archbishop Wojciech Polak in a homily in Gniezno Cathedral appealed for national unity. He stated that “the only way is solidarity, national consent and average human brotherhood”.
Extreme safety measures, including extended street closures in the centre of Warsaw, met with critic of TVN24 writer Konrad Piasecki, who in social media called the situation a complete absurdity.
Note: This article was created utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI).
